The House of Grimaldi enjoyed a right royal night out at the circus where they were greeted by clowns, jugglers and plenty of wellwishers on Thursday.

Louis Ducruet and his companion Marie, his mother Princess Stephanie of Monaco, sister Pauline Ducruet and uncle Prince Albert II of Monaco were in high spirits as they arrived at the 41st International Circus Festival in Monaco.

Dressed in the circus' novelty clothing, the royal family took their pole position seats at the front of the circus to enjoy the show.

Louis Ducruet and his companion Marie, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Pauline Ducruet and Prince Albert II of Monaco were in high spirits as they arrived at the 41st International Circus Festival in Monaco

Prince Albert waves as he attends the circus with his sister, Princess Stephanie, at the opening of the 41st Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival

From 19 to 29 January 2017, more than 120 artists from 16 countries will perform under the Fontvieille Big Top.

The stars of the Russian circus, the Zapashny Brothers, will perform their mixed tiger – lion act for the first time in Europe and Erwin Frankello showcases a show involving African elephants and sea lions.

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According to the circus' website, the 41st Festival features the most spectacular and thrilling acts such as artists on high wire and a double wheel act from the Gerling Troupe.

An international jury, under the presidency of HSH Princess Stephanie, will honour the best acts of the Festival with the famous Golden, Silver and Bronze Clowns awards.

Dressed in the circus' novelty clothing, the royal family took their pole position seats at the front of the circus to enjoy the show

The siblings linked arms as they arrived at the showcase, which they've been promoting all week and is a major attraction in the town

Prince Albert was the main attraction as he arrived at the circus, which runs from 19 to 29 January 2017, with more than 120 artists from 16 countries performing

The royals posed with clowns, who were in high spirits and clearly impressed with their royal spectators

The royals looked bemused as a clown performed some tricks for them upon their arrival

The ringmaster was thrilled to see the Prince and the pair firmly shook hands as they took their seats

The stars of the Russian circus, the Zapashny Brothers, will perform their mixed tiger – lion act for the first time in Europe and Erwin Frankello showcases a show involving African elephants and sea lions.

The royals have been promoting the event all week and as members of Europe's chicest royal family, they are usually a picture of elegance and poise.

But Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and her daughter Pauline couldn't help losing their composure when they were ambushed by a sea lion during a photo call on Tuesday.

Stéphanie, 51, who is the youngest child of actress Grace Kelly and the sister of Albert II, stepped in to help launch the 41st Monte Carlo International Circus Festival when she met the beast.

Louis Ducret and his companion Marie, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Pauline Ducruet and Prince Albert II of Monaco were out in full force to enjoy the show

Pauline, the elder daughter of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, whose grandmother was Grace Kelly, proved she's inherited her good looks

An international jury, under the presidency of HSH Princess Stephanie, will honour the best acts of the Festival with the famous Golden, Silver and Bronze Clowns awards

The mother-of-three, who is tenth in line to the throne, got more than she bargained for after agreeing to pet the circus-trained animal for a photograph.

She puckered up for a kiss with the sea lion which suddenly lunged at her and Pauline, 22, making them both jump.

Recoiling in horror, the pair then grabbed onto a nearby circus trainer's arm for safety.

Stéphanie, dressed in a blue baseball jacket bearing the circus's emblem, is a huge supporter of the event and first attended when she was just nine.

The stars of the Russian circus, the Zapashny Brothers, will perform their mixed tiger – lion act for the first time in Europe and Erwin Frankello showcases a show involving African elephants and sea lions

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, right, and her daughter Pauline pet a sea lion at the 41st Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco on Tuesday

Stéphanie, 51, who is the youngest child of actress Grace Kelly, and the sister of Albert II, reaches out to pet the animal at a photo call to launch the 41st edition of the annual event

Stéphanie puckers up for a kiss with the beast which later lunged at her and Pauline, 22, making them both jump. She and her daughter wore matching scarves for the event

Fancy a smooch? The sea lion was a little overenthusiastic as it posed for a photograph with the royal, who is tenth in line to the throne and the daughter of actress Grace Kelly

While her daughter was casually dressed for the event in a leather biker jacket and colourful silk scarf.

Stéphanie famously eloped with an elephant trainer in 2001, along with her three children, before returning to Monaco.

But the relationship came to an abrupt end and, two years later, she married a circus acrobat - a relationship which also ultimately ended in divorce.

Oops! Stéphanie, dressed in a blue baseball jacket bearing the circus' emblem, is a huge supporter of the event and first attended the event when she was just nine

Family fun: Pauline, left, was casually dressed in a leather biker jacket and colourful silk scarf. The festival is an annual event in the principality and has been running since 1974